Volvo VN Drives Success at National Truck Driving Championships

When performance and pride are on the line, the top drivers in the trucking industry choose the Volvo VN for the winning edge. Once again, the Volvo VN proved itself the first choice of professional drivers, as more than three-quarters of the top drivers at the 2009 National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC) drove Volvo VNs to podium finishes.

Volvo VNs were driven by 16 out of 21 top three finishers in seven categories where Volvo VNs were available, including six first-place finishes. Competitors choose which make of truck they compete in, even if it isn’t the same brand they drive for work. The competition requires navigating an extremely challenging course which places a premium on visibility, truck performance, maneuverability and ease of handling – virtues which Volvos are famous for.

“These are the most skilled drivers trucking has to offer, and Volvo Trucks North America is honored that they freely selected our trucks for an event which means so much to them,” said Scott Kress, senior vice president – sales & marketing.

“It shows that when top drivers have a choice, they choose Volvo,” Kress said. “More importantly, the same features and performance that make the Volvo VN a great competitor make it a great truck, period – safe, productive, fuel efficient and comfortable.”

NTDC, held annually by the American Trucking Associations, is known as the “Superbowl of Trucking,” with the best drivers from each state competing in nine categories based on vehicle configuration. Volvo VNs have dominated the competition for years.

The results for 2009 are:Four-Axle – a clean sweep with first-, second, and third-places (a VN also was driven to fourth place) Sleeper Berth – another clean sweep, with Volvo VNs scoring the first 9 places Three-Axle – a huge sweep as Volvo VNs took the first 13 places Flatbed – Volvo VNs took first- and third-places Tank Truck – first and second places Twin Trailers – first and third places Five-Axle – third place.

This year’s results were even more memorable because three America’s Road Team Captains had podium finishes: Tony Spero for tank trucks (first place); Ralph Garcia for sleeper berth (second place); and Tim Dean for four-axle (second place). Volvo Trucks North America is sole sponsor of America’s Road Team, a national highway safety outreach program.

Volvo Trucks North America’s operations and products are guided by the company’s three core values: Safety, Quality and Environmental Care. The Volvo VN and VHD trucks are assembled in the United States at the New River Valley Plant in Dublin, Virginia, while Volvo engines for North America are assembled in Hagerstown, Maryland. Both plants are certified to ISO14001 environmental and ISO9001 quality standards.

Volvo Trucks North America is part of the Volvo Group, one of the world's leading manufacturers of trucks, buses and construction equipment, drive systems for marine and industrial applications, aerospace components and services, and one of the world's leading producers of heavy-diesel engines (9-16 liter). The Group also provides complete solutions for financing and service. The Volvo Group, which employs about 100,000 people, has production facilities in 19 countries and sells their products in more than 180 markets. Volvo Group sales for 2008 amounted to over $46 billion. The Volvo Group is a publicly-held company headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden. Volvo Shares are listed on Nasdaq OMX Nordic Exchange and are traded OTC in the U.S.